One dead, 14 injured in crash at Savers store

This story was updated at 3:45 p.m..

Shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday, Las Cruces police and EMTs responded to the Savers thrift store at 2340 N. Main Street after an SUV reportedly crashed through the front glass wall near the entrance and injured 13 customers and two employees.

Authorities reported that a 2015 Ford Explorer crashed through the façade close to self-checkout stations, veering right as it passed through the store and came to rest near the southeast corner. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was an unidentified 69-year-old woman who transported herself to a local hospital. 

The incident took place on “Senior Tuesday,” when shoppers age 55 and over are eligible for a discount.

In the afternoon, police said Pamela Kaye Nelson, 67, died of her injuries, while 10 had been trasported to area medical facilities while five others, who were assessed at the scene, declined transportation to hospitals. The injured ranged in age from approximately 30 to 90, police said.

According to a news release, the investigation initially shows that the driver mistakenly pressed on the accelerator instead of the brake while pulling into a parking space in front of the store, jumping the curb and crashing into the building. 

The Las Cruces Fire Department was assisted by Doña Ana County Fire Rescue, the Mesilla Fire Department and American Medical Response, who treated people at the location and assisted with transportation to MountainView Regional Medical Center, Memorial Medical Center, Three Crosses Regional Hospital and the MountainView Emergency Center. 

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information is available.